On the agenda were reports from the Executive Committee, Supervisory Board and the Honorary Council. In addition to the financial results for the 2025/26 season, the focus was on the club’s past and future infrastructure investments.

Honours for deserving Union members

As is tradition, the meeting began with the honouring of deserving Union members. The bronze Ehrennadel was awarded to:

• Jörg Bandlow

• Jens Kern

Report from the Executive Committee

Following the close of the transfer window and the start of the season for both 1. FC Union Berlin’s professional teams, president, Dirk Zingler, called for patience and optimism in the Executive Committee’s report:

“We have had a summer marked by many changes,” said Zingler. “Both teams began their pre-season with a new coaching staff. Right up until the last minute, there were changes to the respective squads, which have enabled us to improve our sporting quality. At the same time, we were able to generate transfer revenue, which was also important to us.

“It’s clear that not everything is going exactly as we’d like just yet, but we can see the hard work being put in, and that makes me very confident. If changes are to take effect, patience is required, even if many of us find that difficult.”

Our own infrastructure – the lifeblood of Union

Looking back at the previous investment phases – #construction of the stadium (up to 2010), the new main stand (2010–2017), the Oberspree training centre [TZO] (2017–2022) and the Alte Försterei training centre for both first-team squads - currently under construction - the total investment to date amounts to 99.5 million euros. The forthcoming comprehensive expansion of the Alte Försterei site is estimated to cost 190 million euros.

“Without taking responsibility for our own site, it would be unthinkable for our club to be in the Bundesliga today,” Zingler continued. “The decision to take matters into our own hands at our own risk required a great deal of courage from us at the time. Today, we can say that, as Berlin’s largest private investor in sports facilities, we have created our own livelihood. With the step ahead of us, we are closing the gap on our rivals and creating the conditions that meet our sporting aspirations and ensure our club’s home ground is fit for the future.”

Stadium expansion – the next steps

The expansion of the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is becoming more realisable with each passing day, leading to an increasingly reliable timetable. This is urgently needed in view of the move to the Olympiastadion and the necessary agreements and contracts involved. Following the finalisation of expert’s reports and the implementation of the resulting species protection measures in autumn 2026, planning approval is expected in autumn 2027, with planning permission to follow in winter 2027. Demolition work is scheduled to begin in winter 2027/28.

Following an estimated construction period of around 18 months, the return to the Alte Försterei is planned for the summer of 2029.

“We learn more with every passing day and every piece of feedback from our experts and the relevant authorities means we are now able to finalise the plans. The scale and complexity of the overall project require precise planning in every respect. This applies to the actual construction planning as well as to the construction schedule and financing. We have paid close attention to this during the previous construction phases, and we will do the same given the scale of the project now ahead of us. It must be clear to us all that accuracy takes precedence over speed.

 “We see the temporary move to the Olympiastadion as a great opportunity. Union fans can once again bring their families and friends along. And we can attract new supporters who haven’t had the chance to get to know us before. Let’s make the most of this opportunity together.”

Positive result and increased equity

Oskar Kosche, Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, outlined the consolidated financial figures for 1. FC Union Berlin e.V. and its subsidiaries for the 2025/26 season.

In the 2025/26 season, Union recorded revenue of 197.62 million euros. The reported profit amounts to 0.41 million euros. Positive equity has risen to 8.50 million euros.

For the 2026/27 season, Union are forecasting revenue of around €174.04 million. The projected consolidated net profit is expected to amount to €0.34 million.

Executive Board, Supervisory Board and Honorary Council discharged

In the Supervisory Board’s report, Thomas Koch had words of praise for last season’s financial results: “Once again, we were able to close the financial year with a profit. This deserves great respect, as we had to manage the return from the revenue levels of the European campaign years, drive forward investment in our infrastructure and maintain our sporting competitiveness – all at the same time. We have succeeded in doing so.”

In accordance with its statutory responsibilities, at its meeting on 31 August 2026, the Supervisory Board, in approved the annual accounts and discharged the Executive Board for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Jörg Helmer, reporting on behalf of the Honorary Council, talked about Union with pride, saying, “It’s football you can get up close to. Down-to-earth, fan-oriented, with plenty of standing room, unconditional support for the women’s and men’s teams, the club as a social home – all of this, and nothing else, gives us life. Some people view us, with a smile or a touch of mockery, as football romantics. There is only one answer to that: yes, we stand by it; we are and will remain football romantics – passionately connected to our club.”

Following discussion of the reports, the general meeting voted by a clear majority to discharge the Supervisory Board and the Honorary Council.

New Supervisory Board elected

The list put forward by Thomas Koch was elected; this comprises the incumbent Supervisory Board members Karlheinz Nolte, Dr Dirk Fischer, Dr Christoph Schulte, Björn Böhning and Marvin Kretzschmar, as well as new candidate, Sylvia Weisheit. At its inaugural meeting, the newly elected Supervisory Board re-elected Thomas Koch as Chairman, with Dr Dirk Fischer as his Deputy.

“We, the elected representatives from amongst you, will do everything in our power to continue our club’s successful journey,” said Koch, the outgoing and newly elected chairman of the supervisory board. “I am convinced that we are very well equipped with this team, because – and I am happy to emphasise this once again – we are facing by far the largest and most complex construction project in our club’s history. It is about nothing less than establishing genuine competitiveness in the Bundesliga and thus laying the foundations for a successful future for 1. FC Union Berlin.

“I would like to thank you for your support and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Supervisory Board and the Executive Committee.”